Amazon offering £1,000 bonus to lure warehouse staff

Amazon is attempting to attract candidates for warehouse roles with a £1,000 joining bonus.

According to job postings on Indeed, warehouse operatives are “urgently needed” across several Amazon distribution sites, amid a national shortage of staff in logistics roles.

It is offering candidates a £1,000 bonus pro rata if they take up a warehouse role before 18 September, along with an hourly rate of up to £11.10 for a night shift and £22.20 an hour overtime pay.

The job ads say no warehouse or logistics experience is needed to apply for the roles, which are located in areas including Darlington, Dartford, Swansea, Redditch and Coventry.

An Amazon spokesperson confirmed it was offering the bonus, stating: “We are currently offering a sign on bonus at a number of locations to attract new permanent and seasonal associates.”

The logistics sector is experiencing a recruitment crisis, which is threatening the availability of some products on supermarket shelves and in restaurants including Nando’s and McDonalds.

The shortage of HGV drivers is proving particularly problematic. McDonald’s said it had run out of milkshakes and some bottled drinks due to the nationwide shortage of drivers.

The chief executive of the Co-operative Group has warned that the retailer was having to reduce some ranges because the industry was struggling to get some products to shops.

Steve Murrells told The Times that the Co-op was retraining staff as lorry drivers because of an estimated 100,000 shortfall across the industry.

Organisations including Tesco and John Lewis have offered bonuses to drivers who take up roles with them, while Aldi has increased drivers’ pay in a bid to retain staff.

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Earlier this week the British Retail Consortium and industry body Logistics UK urged business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng to adopt three policies that would help end the crisis: increase HGV driver testing capacity permanently; review the decision not to grant temporary work visas to lorry drivers; and reform skills schemes to support the training of HGV drivers.

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